Global Social Media Manager

McLaren; Woking; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

25 days holiday

Enhanced pension

Discretionary annual bonus

Private medical insurance

Life assurance

Sabbatical after two years

Discounted shopping

Parental leave

Wellbeing programmes

Job summary

McLaren Automotive seeks a proactive Social Media Lead to own the global social strategy, transforming McLaren's presence into a luxury storytelling platform. You will shape channel roles, lead editorial planning, and ensure brand consistency across platforms while driving engagement and qualified leads.

You’ll collaborate with Brand Marketing, Client Insights, and regional teams, overseeing content, partnerships and influencer programs to elevate global brand desirability.

Qualifications

• 7+ years leading global social for luxury/premium brands.
• Proven track record increasing brand awareness and engagement.
• Deep expertise in Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Threads, Reddit, WeChat/Weibo familiarity.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own McLaren Automotive's global social strategy aligned to objectives.
• Define role, audience and content strategy for all channels with in-market plan.
• Own global editorial calendar including launches, racing activity, campaigns.
• Champion social-first storytelling with evolving formats and video output.
• Develop executive thought leadership for LinkedIn and senior leaders.
• Partner with campaigns/ media teams for integrated organic/paid social.
• Lead influencer, creator and ambassador strategies globally.
• Develop community management principles to boost engagement.
• Own social performance reporting with KPIs and insights for seniors.
• Lead social listening and cultural intelligence to identify opportunities.
• Work with regional teams for governance and localization including China.

Skills

7+ years luxury social

Social strategy

Platform-native formats

Analytics & optimization

Agency management

Copywriting

Executive social leadership

Job description

What to Expect:

Reporting to the Head of Brand Marketing & Communications, this is an exciting opportunity for a proactive, dynamic and creative social media leader to join the Global Brand & Client function at McLaren Automotive.This role will own McLaren Automotive's global social media strategy, transforming the brand's social presence into a world-class luxury storytelling platform that builds brand desirability, deepens audience engagement and supports commercial growth.You will define the vision for McLaren's global social ecosystem across all social channels, ensuring every platform has a clear role whilst delivering one consistent brand experience.Working closely with the wider Brand Marketing and Communications team, Client Insights and regional marketing teams, you will develop channel strategies, lead editorial planning, oversee creative output and champion social-first storytelling that positions McLaren amongst the world's leading luxury brands.This role will establish a new global social strategy, driving increased brand awareness, follower growth, engagement, qualified lead generation and client advocacy.

What You'll Do:

• Develop and own McLaren Automotive's global social media strategy aligned to business, brand and commercial objectives.
• Define the role, audience and content strategy for all social media channels and support regions with in-market channel strategy.
• Own the global editorial calendar, integrating product launches, racing activity, partnerships, retailer campaigns and brand storytelling.
• Champion best-in-class creative and social-first storytelling, continuously evolving formats, video output and platform innovation.
• Develop executive thought leadership strategies, primarily across LinkedIn, supporting senior leaders with content planning and reputation building.
• Partner with the Campaigns Manager and media teams to ensure organic and paid social activity works as one integrated ecosystem, supporting campaign objectives, audience development, traffic, retargeting and qualified lead generation.
• Lead influencer, creator and ambassador strategies globally.
• Develop community management principles that strengthen engagement, advocacy and customer relationships.
• Own social media performance reporting across all global channels, establishing clear KPIs for brand awareness, reach, engagement, audience growth, video performance, traffic and qualified leads; translate data into actionable insights, optimisation plans and regular updates for senior stakeholders.
• Lead social listening and cultural intelligence across markets, using audience conversations, sentiment, competitor activity and emerging cultural behaviours to identify opportunities, inform content and channel strategy, and provide early warning of reputational risks.
• Work with regional teams to provide governance, retailer guidance and localisation support, including adaptable content packages for market requirements and Chinese social platforms that remain culturally relevant and aligned to global brand standards.
• Lead external agencies, contractors, creators and production partners from scoping and briefing through to delivery, managing budgets, timelines, resource planning, quality and supplier performance while ensuring all activity meets McLaren brand standards.
• Maintain organised content libraries, source files, usage rights, music licensing, approvals, embargoes and publishing records, ensuring current and approved assets can be located quickly and all content meets legal and brand requirements.
• Support Media Communications during issues and crisis communications across owned social channels.

What You’ll Bring:

Knowledge, Skills & Experience:

• 7+ years' experience leading global social media for luxury, premium or performance brands.
• Proven track record developing social strategies that increase brand awareness, engagement and audience growth.
• Deep expertise in platform-native formats, algorithms, audience behaviours and publishing best practice across Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, LinkedIn, Facebook, X, Threads and Reddit, with familiarity with WeChat and Weibo advantageous.
• Strong understanding of social analytics, content performance and channel optimisation.
• Experience managing agencies, creators and production partners.
• Excellent copywriting, editorial judgement and creative briefing skills.
• Experience supporting executive social media and thought leadership programmes.

Personal Attributes:

• Creative and dynamic thinker who can operate under pressure.
• Inspirational communicator with exceptional stakeholder management skills.
• Commercially minded with a passion for luxury brands and digital culture.
• Highly organised with exceptional attention to detail.
• Curious, innovative and constantly seeking new social opportunities.
• Confident influencing senior stakeholders.
• Collaborative, resilient and comfortable in a fast-paced global environment.
• A genuine passion for the McLaren brand, products and heritage.

What We’ll Do for You:

We offer a wide – ranging benefits package, which includes:

• Structured career development framework
• 25 days’ holiday, plus bank holiday. Annual buy & sell up to five days
• Enhanced company pension scheme
• Discretionary annual bonus award
• Private medical insurance and health cash plan
• Life assurance benefit
• Ability to apply for a sabbatical of up to one year after only two years’ service
• Benefits you can adapt to your lifestyle, such as discounted shopping
• Generous parental leave policies
• A range of wellbeing initiatives, such as employee assistance programme and free financial & mortgage advice

Who Are We?

No restraints. No limitations. We don’t simply push boundaries. We completely rethink them. McLaren Automotive exists to create breath-taking performance road cars.

It takes a community to do what we do. A diverse group of people with many areas of expertise, united by their passion to deliver visionary products and set new benchmarks.

McLaren Automotive commits to equal opportunity for all. Diversity, Equality and Inclusion is at the heart of our impact, it drives our innovation and enables us to truly create something special. Join us on our journey.